# two pennies to rub together

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/two-pennies-to-rub-together
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A minimal amount of money to live on; any money at all.

## Examples

- He is so poor he does not have two pennies to rub together.
- After losing his job, he struggled to pay rent because he did not have two pennies to rub together.
- Despite his family's former status, the young man found himself destitute, lacking even two pennies to rub together as he wandered the city streets.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.